Collection of found theatrical spaces
A collection of different spaces which are theatrical or are inviting for something theatrical to occur.
Theatrical Spaces are where movement can be or is suggested and where a tension between lights is visible or can exist. A space where an atmopshere where changes can happen or uccur is existing.
ELECTRICAL HOUSES FROM THE TRAIN
Movement or suggested movement in a space.
This photograph of a space I saw outside the train, is for me a theatrical space.
A space which is inviting for movement to happen, for example: walking between the buildings, climbing up the ladder, wind moving the trees, opening doors...
But also a space where a tension between lights can exist: a tension between the natural and artificial light and a tension between the lights of each seperate building, but also in a building itself the light from inside and the light from outside.
I chose to work from the picture I took at that moment and finding the important aspects of it and how I could/can recreate something which evokes the same feelings or speaks with the same theatricality.
First I sketched the space. Making something that is real more abstract, making a translation from something outside of the theatre into a theatrical context.
From this sketch, I made a small maquette to see where lights could play a role and which light and shadows games could be played.
Walking Light
After finding all these theatrical spaces, I started to think of how I could make this looking for found theatrical spaces and the beauty that hides in them more visible in my work.
I already found out that short movies of a space can communicate better the same feeling I had in the space than pictures can do. Pictures can show the esthetics and compositions in a space. But Videos communicate the esthetics, the compositions and very important, the silence of a space! (or sounds of the space).
The spaces that I call "found theatrical spaces" are spaces where there exists a notion of posthumanism, of abandoned spaces where humans aren't seen, but there influence is still visible.
I chose to make this feeling of spaces visible/feelable for the spectator. By contiuning performing with light I could make myself walk with a light. Continuing on working on the silent film, without a costume, without a big action happening, just me walking with a streetlight and a suitcase. This work could also work on the duality of being there digital, but not physical.
First I walked with the light very closely to the screen in spaces that are easily accessible from Pastoe. Spaces that I liked because of their composition or their esthetics. When this video was shown the first time, I chose to add music to it. Music played live by me on the Melodica (The Entertainer, Scott Joplin, 1902)
First of all my presence wasn't feeling okay. I couldn't work on duality if I am being present in the same space, but doing a total different act, this is only confusing the spectator.
Secondly: by adding music to it and walking with a suitcase I immediatly was putting myself into being a charachter, a slapstick figure. I obliged myself to do the work without the suitcase and the music, although I realy wanted to use them in the work...
Making a video that I want to be abstract in this found theatrical space, couldn't work if the spectator immediatly recognizes the spaces that are being projected. I had to look for spaces that are by themselves more abstract.
To make the spectator aware of time passing, the video had to be made in one take, and not different shots put together.
I removed the music and the suitcase. Searched for a more abstract space. A one shot movie, from one point.
The space could be a backdrop. The silence and the space are the most important factors.
Own Theatrical Space
Finding it hard to work in the Black box and the small white rooms, I started to place the different experiment I made in the space of Pastoe and around my desk.
By showing the works in different spaces, I found out what important factors in spaces are that I need to be able to create and work in, without constantly needing to think about pratical solutions (building up and down, not enought height, no hanging points...).